Non-State Member Support for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan

 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58) which is generally referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted November 15, 2021, appropriated $60 million for EPA to issue grants, including grants to non-state Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) members and key partners (21 eligible tribes, three sub-basin committees, and a Land Grant University Consortium) to support the implementation of the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan. This Assistance Listing considers relevant approaches to achieving the intended goals and objectives of the program consistent with statutory requirements, including priorities in Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to invest public dollars equitably, create jobs and high labor stands, ensure goods and services are made in America, and build infrastructure that is resilient and helps combat the climate crisis. Awardees are required to provide annual progress reports which will be used to measure successful implementation and support evaluation. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2023: EPAs funding priority is to award funds to non-state HTF partners to provide technical assistance and outreach support to the HTF Members on nutrient reduction strategies and to advance bold, systemic actions that accelerate nutrient load reductions in the MARB and to the Gulf of Mexico. EPA expects entities (HTF Members) to develop workplans that prioritize those actions most effective at to help the HTF reach the Action Plan goals and develop capacity to reducing nutrient loads, using both proven and innovative approaches, that are now possible with BIL funding for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2024: EPAs funding priority is to award funds to non-state HTF partners to provide technical assistance and outreach support to the HTF Members on nutrient reduction strategies and to advance bold, systemic actions that accelerate nutrient load reductions in the MARB and to the Gulf of Mexico. EPA expects entities (HTF Members) to develop workplans that prioritize those actions most effective at to help the HTF reach the Action Plan goals and develop capacity to reducing nutrient loads, using both proven and innovative approaches, that are now possible with BIL funding for the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan.

Active 66.487 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2023 The program will begin awarding funds to tribal Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) members for technical assistance, capacity building, and outreach support to implement nutrient reduction strategies. Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1254 et seq Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. Applications from eligible Tribal recipients are reviewed by the appropriate EPA Regional Office and approved by the Approval Official. Applications from eligible HTF partners are reviewed by EPA HQ and approved by the Approval Official. For non-competitive awards made under this assistance listing, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant. Funds are distributed to the respective entities as follows: $2,000,000 distributed equally among eligible tribes, $400,000 distributed equally among the three sub-basin committees, and $200,000 to the Land Grant University Consortium. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E - Disputes, as applicable. Not applicable. Funds are awarded to eligible entities to implement the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan as authorized by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Funds are distributed to the respective entities as follows: $2,000,000 distributed equally among eligible tribes, $400,000 distributed equally among the three sub-basin committees, and $200,000 to the Land Grant University Consortium. Funds are provided to eligible recipients to implement the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan as authorized by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Geospatial information is information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the earth, or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, GPS, remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial). Performance Reports: Reporting requirements shall be determined at the time of award. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory Formula: This program does not have a statutory formula. However, EPA allocates funds based on formulas contained in program guidance.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. None/Not specified. Katie Flahive, Environmental Scientist
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code: 4503T)
Washington, DC 20460 USA
flahive.katie@epa.gov
Phone: 202-566-1206 https://www.epa.gov/ms-htf 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $1,000,000.00; FY 24 est $2,600,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - Range: $65,000 to $166,667/fiscal year; Average: $115,833/fiscal year. 2 CFR 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs). Fiscal Year 2023 In FY 2023, eight awards to Tribes will be made to support staff, participate in partner public meetings, engage and reach out to HTF states and partners, and support tribal, regional, and basin-wide progress tracking, implement nutrient reduction demonstration projects, and develop watershed plans, such as 9-element watershed plans, to guide nutrient management work.